The end of the first semester is always a critical point in the year. Halfway through the school year marks the holiday season and winter break. But for juniors, the midway point means starting college counseling, a step that can be both exciting and scary.
The college counseling process begins with a big January meeting with parents, where juniors talk about their testing schedules, plan classes for next year and decide what schools to tour. In an email to the junior class in November, the college counselors described the beginning of the college counseling process: “We will start to meet individually with students to get to know them and to learn more about the types of colleges and universities they think might fit them best.”
Senior Eliza Kravitz said that the beginning of the college counseling process was smooth, well organized and very clear. For her, the process was little to worry about. “I had older siblings, so I knew a little bit about the process, but I would say there was not really anything to do until the spring,” Kravitz said. “The college counseling office did a good job making sure [students] were focusing on their grades without spending time on college too much.”
Even with the updates from the college counseling office and the efforts to put as little pressure on the juniors as possible, many students are still stressing out about the process.
“I’m excited, but it also makes me stressed thinking about it because going to college is an exciting step, but the reality of the application process does not seem very exciting,” said junior Tayae Rogers.
For many other juniors, the school year is already stressful, and the idea of college brings even more pressure to their year. Although these emotions are very normal throughout the GDS community, Kravitz advises students, especially the juniors, not to worry about it.
“Just don’t stress it,” Kravitz said. “You will get everything done without starting the process or worrying about the process before the spring of junior year; the college counseling office is equipped to put your best face forward.”
By Abby Brickman ’20